Staff at the special school claim mice and flies have been a persistent problem for months, leaving droppings in pupils’ work trays and sparking serious health concerns – with one found in a staff member’s bag
A dead mouse has reportedly been found in a staff member’s bag at a special school, with employees claiming the building is overrun with vermin.
Staff at Kaimes Special School in Edinburgh say mice and flies have been a persistent problem for months, leaving droppings in pupils’ work trays and sparking serious health concerns. One employee described the situation as “infested,” amid the discovery of a dead rodent inside a support assistant’s bag, according to reports. Pest control teams from the council have now been called in to tackle the problem. Kaimes serves vulnerable children with autism and additional support needs.
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In an email seen by Edinburgh Live and sent to staff on Thursday, September 25, health concerns at the school were outlined. It read: “The staffroom is a mess, there are clothes and bags everywhere. Mice have been in bags of unopened food and a dead one was found in a staff member’s bag that was hanging up. There are also flies flying about, a sign of something dead. I’m sorry if this upsets you but we need to be vigilant.”
A staff member hit out at the special school’s “disgusting” conditions, which they felt were a threat to pupil health and wellbeing. They said: “The infestation of mice and flies has been ongoing in the school for about six months. Mice are leaving droppings everywhere and dead mice are appearing across both buildings. It’s disgusting.
“Pupils and staff have seen mice, both dead and alive in various parts of the school. It makes me feel physically sick at the thought of where the mice have been and what bacteria are we touching daily. It’s so upsetting to think the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff are so irrelevant to the council.”
Councillor James Dalgleish, Education, Children and Families Convener said: “We are aware of these concerns and our pest control team has already visited the school to assess and instigate a pest control programme. Ongoing assessment and inspections will be carried out collaboratively with school staff to monitor risks and ensure that measures are in place to support health and safety control.”